Greek Orthodox Leader dies

Archbishop Christodoulos of the Greek Orthodox Church died today (Monday) after a battle with liver cancer. Christodoulos led the Greek Church to a boost in membership after decades of decline, and was the first Greek Primate to welcome a Pope (John Paul II/the Great) to Athens in over a millenium. He was a popular leader, though his firm and abrasive style of leadership did not please everyone. Read the whole story here.

St. Chrysostom: 'Christ died for me'

"May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 (NRSV)

"But what is boasting in the cross? Boasting in the fact that Christ took on the form of a slave for my sake and suffered for me when I was the slave, the enemy, the unfeeling one. He loved me so much that he gave himself over to a curse for me. What can compare to this?...He wasn't ashamed of being crucified for you - will you be ashamed to confess his infinite care for you?"

-St. John Chrysostom (died A.D. 407) from his "Commentary on Galatians".

I really love this simple quote. Chrysostom, one of the great fathers of the Eastern Church, sounds alot like John Wesley after his experience of the Holy Spirit at Aldersgate or like a contemporary evangelical. Here we encounter the mystery of divine love at the very heart of that faith upon which all Christians agree.